You can give honey to babies over one year of age.
Why Wait Until One Year Old?
The primary reason for waiting until a baby is at least one year old to introduce honey into their diet is the risk of infant botulism.
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Infant Botulism: Honey can sometimes contain spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. While these spores are generally harmless to older children and adults, infants' digestive systems are not mature enough to handle them.
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Developing Protective Bacteria: After one year of age, a child's intestines have developed beneficial bacteria that can combat Clostridium botulinum spores, significantly reducing the risk of infant botulism.
According to the reference provided, only give honey to healthy children over one year of age because by this age, children have developed helpful bacteria in their intestines that protect against Clostridium botulinum spores. Therefore, their risk of developing infant botulism is very low.
Key Takeaway:
| Age | Honey Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Under 1 Year | Avoid Honey |
| Over 1 Year | Safe to Consume |
